Click to play videoNew Delhi: RJD member Sadhu Yadav almost came to blows with Prabhunath Singh of JD(U) in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour.
Another RJD member Rabindra Rana threw a mike kept on the Parliamentary Reporters' table towards BJP member M A K Swain. Trouble started when Speaker Somnath Chatterjee allowed Singh to raise an issue concerning Bihar.
Singh alleged that a criminal in Arrah had claimed that he was a relative of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.
This infuriated the Railway Minister and his RJD colleagues who rushed to the front benches.
The Speaker tried to cool tempers and said objectionable remarks would be expunged, but this did not pacify the RJD and JD(U) MPs who began shouting at each other.
Amid the din, Prabhunath Singh resigned from Lok Sabha, but Speaker refused to accept it.
He then adjourned the House till 1400 hours IST.
But the matter did not end there with both the sides hurling verbal abuses at each other and Yadav was seen charging towards Singh.
As Yadav moved menacingly towards Singh with a raised fist, Brajbhusan Sharan Singh (BJP) stepped in to block the RJD MP.
Then Rana along with fellow party member Ram Kripal Yadav began to shout at Singh. M A K Swain (BJP) prevented Rana from moving towards the JD(U) member. Enraged at this, Rana picked up the soundbox and hurled it at Swain.
The Speaker told Singh that his personal allegations against the Railway Minister were "very unfair" and he should desist from such statements. Singh had accused the Centre of interfering in the working of non-Congress ruled states under the pressure of "some heavyweights from Bihar".
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi requested RJD members and the Railway Minister, who was shouting at Singh, to calm down. BJP members were seen shouting back at the RJD MPs.
Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee rushed to the House and the Watch and Ward staff cordoned off the well to ensure peace. Singh, JD-U member Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lallan’ and Swain then met the Speaker in his office.
Shortly before the House met again at 14 hours IST, Mukherjee, Dasmunsi, BJP deputy leader V K Malhotra and S S Dhindsa held talks with the Railway Minister.
Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal took the chair when the House met again. As the Railway Minister stood up to speak, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for an hour till 1500 hurs IST.
Prabhunath Singh later told CNN-IBN that he would press for an inquiry against the matter.
"Those guilty must be punished. I am ready to fight from Lalu's constiuency Let the public decide our fate. I will not take back my resignation," he said.
When peace was restored, the Railway Minister apologised for RJD MPs’ behaviour but said no member or minister would keep quiet if he was insulted.
After Lalu's apology, Singh said he had not not insulted anyone but said action should be taken against him if he was found guilty. He said he was not fit to be in the Lok Sabha, gave his resignation to the Speaker and left the House.
Swain said after nine years in the Lok Sabha he felt scared today because of the incident. "Should I come to the House with my bodyguard?" he asked the Speaker.
Chatterjee said the incidents were "condemnable" and warned that "strongest possible action" would be taken if they were repeated. "Our very existence is for this institution. Let us not not destroy it," he said.
CODE OF CONDUCT |
| The dos |
- Always address the Chair - Keep to one's usual seat while addressing the House - Maintain silence while not addressing - Maintain the inviolability of the Question Hour - Refrain from rushing into the well of the House - Resume one's seat as soon as the Speaker rises to speak |
| The don'ts |
- Do not interrupt any member while speaking by disorderly expression or noises - Do not obstruct proceedings - Do not shout slogans inside the House - Do not question or comment on the ruling of the Chair - Do not speak unless called by the Chair or speak unparliamentary words - Do not use one's right of speech to obstruct the business of the House |
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